Falklanders to hold referendum

The Falkland Islands are to hold a referendum next year on their "political status" in an attempt to bring an end to the continuing dispute with Argentina over the islands' sovereignty, their government has announced.

Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell, secretary of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on the Falkland Islands has told ITV News that the Islanders "have a right a right to make their own decision" and that Argentina should not interfere.

Foreign Office minister Jeremy Browne, the first British minister to visit the Falkland in an official capacity since 2008 Credit: David Jones/PA Wire

Foreign Office Minister Jeremy Browne has welcomed the announcement of a referendum in the Falklands on the "political status" of the islands. Mr Browne, who arrived in the Falklands yesterday said:

"Only the Falkland Islands people can determine how they wish to be governed, so I very much support this initiative by the Falkland Islands government. Indeed, I believe this referendum is a truly significant moment".

Welcoming the Falkland Islands Government’s announcement that it will hold a referendum on its political status, Foreign Secretary William Hague said:

The British Government has been consistent in its view that the future of the Falklands can only be determined by the people who live there. So the Prime Minister and I support this initiative to demonstrate – without doubt – the definitive view of the Falkland Islands people. In a region that rightly prizes democracy and human rights, it is entirely appropriate that the Islanders can express this fundamental right...

I hope very much that Argentina, and indeed the whole of the international community, joins the UK in listening carefully to what they have to say.

The announcement that Falklanders would hold a referendum on their "political status" comes as the islands prepare to mark the 30th anniversary of their liberation.

Falkland Islands. Credit: ITV News

Three decades after Margaret Thatcher sent 27,000 troops and more than 100 ships to repel the Argentinian invaders, Buenos Aires continues to set its sights on claiming the territory it calls Las Malvinas.

But the Falkland Islands government said it hopes a referendum will send a firm message to Argentinian president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner that islanders want to remain British.

Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell, secretary of the All Party Parliamentary Group on the Falkland Islands, said the referendum was an "extremely important decision" that would determine "once and for all" the wishes of the islands' inhabitants.

He added that he expected a "very similar result" to that in a referendum held by Gibraltar in 2002, in which the idea of Britain sharing sovereignty with Spain was rejected by 98.5% of residents.

It will make it clear once and for all what the Falklands Islands want for their own destiny. I hope that the Argentinian government will respect the democratic wishes of the islanders.